Angry hubby unleashed attack on wife after she told him to kill himself

Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Published:13:11Thursday 02 June 2016

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A furious husband unleashed a relentless attack on his wife after they had a row about him drinking booze before driving home from a day out.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, June 1, how Christian Foster, 44, had been on a day out with his wife Helen Foster when he announced he was going to drive home despite having consumed alcohol.

Prosecuting solicitor Jennifer Fitzgerald said: “They had been on a day out with children to Chatsworth meeting friends and there was some alcohol consumed.

“Around teatime the group went to Bakewell and more alcohol was consumed and a number of children were due to come back for a sleep-over at their family home.

“The defendant said he would drive and his wife said it was not a good idea and made a comment to the effect that he should ‘go ahead and kill himself’.”

The court heard that by the time Mrs Foster returned home to Monyash Road, Bakewell, her husband was already there and an argument began again in the kitchen.

Ms Fitzgerald added: “The defendant grabbed his wife by her upper left arm while he was waving his mobile phone in her face while showing her a text message from her to the effect that he should go ahead and kill himself.”

The defendant pushed his wife, according to Ms Fitzgerald, and she fell and banged the back of her head on the stone floor.

Ms Fitzgerald added that Christian Foster also sprayed a bottle of water over his wife and threw coleslaw at a wall as his wife shuffled to get out of view from the children in their home.

The complainant described the incident as protracted and she claimed there had been a history of domestic violence with two previous incidents that were not reported.

Christian Foster, currently of Petworth Drive, Sheffield, admitted to police that he had seen red after his wife had told him to kill himself and he had grabbed and pushed her and sprayed water and thrown coleslaw.

He pleaded guilty to assault after the incident on May 14.

Defence solicitor Michael Whitworth said the couple had lived in London and had moved back to the area and there had been a strain on their relationship as his wife continued to work in London.

Mr Whitworth added that Christian Foster had suffered an horrendous bicycle accident creating problems with him not working and the couple had started talking about divorce.

The defendant had also been affected, according to Mr Whitworth, by his wife’s comment about killing himself after his father had died under difficult circumstances.

Mr Whitworth said: “He immediately accepted he had done wrong and had behaved improperly and he is incredibly remorseful about what happened.”

Magistrates adjourned the case to consider a probation report before sentencing on June 22.

Christian Foster was released on conditional bail on the grounds he does not contact his wife or go to her address.